Heading into the 2025 season, all the talk will be centered on how many things Travis Hunter can do.
But should we start talking about Bo Melton?
Packers coach Matt LaFleur is putting Melton through an experiment to see if he can handle playing wideout and cornerback. Many people are against it because they think it’s a gimmick or it’s silly.
Melton is one of the best athletes on the team and LaFleur just wants to get him on the field more often. I think it makes sense. Here’s a guy that is lightning quick and has made numerous big play catches. And now with Jaire Alexander getting released, it only makes sense for the Packers to make sure every stone isn’t left unturned.
“Obviously, he’s a real talented player and has produced,” said LaFleur on Tuesday. “How he shows up everyday ready to compete and give his best effort … you can always expect a lot of great things, whatever it is he’s doing.”
So many people have complained about a lack of explosiveness and athleticism on defense. Yet, when a coach thinks out of the box and hand delivers those traits, there are people that still don’t like it.
Does that mean that it’s going to work? No. It actually might crash and burn. But I give LaFleur credit for doing something different. The NFL is a copycat league and getting people to change is next to an impossible task.
I think this decision, whether it succeeds or fails, shows that LaFleur is willing to do whatever it takes. Heck, if he’s looking for a spark maybe he can split Brandon McManus out wide and catch the defense sleeping.
It also says something about Melton. Because LaFleur wasn’t going to try this experiment on a player that was going to grouse about it. There’s no use trying something if a player is going to continually complain. But that’s just the guy who Melton is.
“Off the field, Bo’s a great dude,” said Jordan Love. “He’s got a great personality. I feel like in the locker room, he connects with a lot of guys on the team. Then on the field, I mean, he’s a guy that does the right things. He’s very consistent with what he does.”
LaFleur really wants the Packers to be successful and he’s willing to do whatever it takes for that to happen. If that means ticking off the traditionalists, then so be it. He’d rather win in a different way than lose the same old tired way.
Let’s face it, the NFL isn’t getting easier. The Lions and Eagles are still huge roadblocks in the NFC and the Commanders, Buccaneers and Rams are up and coming teams that could win a lot of games.
The Packers are somewhere in the middle and an experiment like this could take this team over the top.
#Packers WR/CB Bo Melton(?)
Bo working with the DBs to start practice. 👀 pic.twitter.com/5kh0j4aMH1
— Marques Eversoll (@MarquesEversoll) June 10, 2025